My Journey into Writing

Reading before Writing:

Since childhood I’ve been an avid reader. The earliest books I remember I read were fairytales. My grandmother and her sister instilled a love for reading. My mother, a great story teller, was vivid with her descriptions as we slept under the star-spangled sky during the summer months. I could imagine the trees, fairies, kings, sages and the others she would narrate stories about as I fell asleep. My father would get me storybooks as gifts whenever he came back after his work trip. How I loved to see those colourful pictures and read each word slowly, all the while unravelling the beauty of the story to myself.

When I reached standard six in school I could issue books from the library. I was told one book a week. But I managed to find favour with the Librarian and by the time I reached standard twelve I used to issue six books per week. Great was my joy when my mother purchased the first romantic novel for me, ‘Sister Peters in Amsterdam’ by Betty Neels. I read romance novels by many authors but Betty Neels is my favourite Romantic Novelist.

In the ancient, century old wooden cupboards of the School library, I made an acquaintance with Enid Blyton’s characters, Nancy Drew, Barbara Cartland’s heroines, Mills & Boons love stories, etc. I chanced upon ‘Ruskin Bond’ in a Bookstore at Delhi much later. But when I read that first book, I wanted to read more of his books; such was the fascination. Enid Blyton and Ruskin Bond are my all-time favourites.

Foray into Writing:

If I may say so, writing for me began when I was ten years old. I remember my English teacher at School was stunned to read my essay on ‘The Postman’ during an exam. She asked me repeatedly about how I wrote the essay so descriptively. I told her I watched the postman who came to deliver letters and books. My next extraordinary stint at writing which amazed my English teacher was in standard eight. I was the only student in the whole class who attempted an autobiography from the three questions given as options in the Writing Section, that too when it had never been taken up in lessons. My teacher praised me for my attempt at the autography of a book, I had precisely mentioned the book – A Thousand and One Arabian Nights. Reading and listening to my grandmother’s tales was beginning to spill out on paper. In college, I penned a few articles for the Magazine. I would write poems ‘for my eyes only’ in a diary.

And then, years later when I began shaping and moulding young minds as an educator I was bombarded with requests for original prayers for the morning assembly by students, some colleagues and the authorities alike. Students would also approach me for help in debates, essay writing competitions, script writing and the likes.

Observation and Inspiration:

One of my colleagues after observing the long line of students and their requests suggested that I should compile all my works to be published on a later date. He was of the view I should create something that would belong to me, something I could proudly call mine. Each time he mentioned this I would laugh the idea away. A few years later, I was requested by a friend to help him out with a major project of planning and penning a series of English textbooks. We would discuss, and I would pen certain stories and poems as per the requirement of the blueprint. After reading a few pieces he insisted that I should think about penning something seriously. He said that he felt I had the imagination, creativity and flair for it. At first, I didn’t take him seriously. Then I wrote a very descriptive autobiography intending a collection of short stories and autobiographies. My friend was of the view that I should create a protagonist and have the story revolve around him or her. I told him I would think about it. Feeling inspired, I mulled over a number of options. Gradually the idea took root germinating into a thought and blossoming into ‘Magic at Ferns and Blooms’. By the time I showed him what I had done, I had penned sixteen chapters of the twenty-one chapter long fantasy novel. He was aghast! Till date I remember that moment of intense surprise! I grabbed the opportunity of asking him to be the editor and luckily he agreed. I shared with him my plan of penning a trilogy; he agreed that it was a good idea.

Moving to the next step

By now I had a very clear picture in my mind that I would like to have a few coloured illustrations in my fantasy novel as it would have children in the age group of eight to fourteen years as its main readers. As I got closer to the end, my friend and me started discussing our options for illustrations. That’s when Divine Providence stepped in and I was guided straight to this talented young lady who was willing to take the plunge just as me. It would be the ‘first’ for both of us. The first book was a learning experience for all of us. I decided to go in for self-publishing after two failed attempts to reach ‘big names’. The editor and the illustrator supported my decision and we aced the test with flying colours and increasing euphoria. After ‘Magic at Ferns and Blooms’ came ‘More Magic at Ferns and Blooms’ and the last part ‘Goodbye Ferns and Blooms’. In three years we brought out the three books of the fantasy series – The Ferns and Blooms Trilogy.

Discussions and Preparations:

Even in a dictionary success comes after preparation. I remember how hours would be invested in discussing plots, possible solutions to dilemmas, character shaping, edits and the resultant pictorial presentation through illustrations. In these three years, the efforts doubled and trebled in the desire to bring out the best. As a team we searched and researched opportunities to popularise the books through local and National Book Fairs, interaction sessions, advertising and social media.

The Crux:

‘If you can dream it, you can do it’. The ingredients for success according to me are : inspiration, desire to dream, dedication, perseverance, good friends, hard work, willingness to experiment, acceptance of failure, desire to try again and open to constructive criticism.